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Man, 22, gets prison for his role in selling drugs to informant

WILLMAR -- Ryan Scott Unke, 22, of Brooten, was sentenced Monday to 48 months in prison on a second-degree drug sale charge for his role in selling cocaine to a CEEVI Drug Task Force informant last summer.

As part of his sentence handed down in Kandiyohi County District Court, Unke was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine. He was given credit for 18 days already served in jail. His fine and court fees will be taken from his prison earnings.

As part of the plea agreement, two other drug char-ges were dismissed.

Unke was one of three people charged in connection to the drug sales. Deedra Lyn Hargrave, 42, of Morris, was sentenced Dec. 15 to 93 months in prison on a second-degree sale charge. She was given credit for 11 days already served in jail and ordered her to use her prison earnings to pay a fine and court fees totaling $1,590.

Aiesha Caldwell, 27, of Chicago, pleaded guilty Dec. 6 to a third-degree sale charge. She will be sentenced March 21.

According to complaints against the three, the informant purchased 40 Lortab pills, a prescription narcotic, from Unke on July 13. The purchase was made in the parking lot of a retail store in Willmar, with Hargrave meeting the informant and Unke at the location.

Hargrave told the informant she could get him whatever narcotic he wanted.

The informant purchased 8.6 grams of cocaine from Unke and Hargrave on Aug. 2 and 8.8 grams of cocaine from all three defendants Aug. 27 in a motel parking lot in Willmar.

The informant also allegedly purchased crack cocaine during the meeting.

Gretchen Schlosser is the public safety reporter, and writes about agriculture occasionally, for the West Central Tribune. She's been with the Tribune since 2006 and has 17 years of experience working in news, media and communications.